Articles: patient-care.
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Systemic application of analgesics is still the most frequently used method of postoperative relief of pain. However, neither intermittent intramuscular nor intermittent intravenous application can provide the patient with a continuous level of analgesia. Lipid-soluble analgesics or those with polar binding that are rapidly metabolized demonstrate an rapid effectiveness. ⋯ After an initial bolus injection, the continuous infusion of an analgesic is guaranteed and may be completed by the patient with several bolus injections. PCA requires careful monitoring. We suggest that a special analgesia team to take care of the patient in special analgesia units might be appropriate in the future.
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Acute postoperative pain has an important psychological component. This psychological element could be registered by observing or measuring interindividual differences in pain experience, expressions of pain, and pain-coping behavior. Emotions such as anxiety, anger, and helplessness accompany postoperative pain, and postoperative pain can also be elicited by very intense preoperative anxiety. ⋯ Psychological factors also influence pain reduction. Postoperative aggression and its underlying metabolism facilitates recovery if the physicians or nurses can cope with the anger of the patient. Providing sensory descriptions of the pain during the preoperative visit and careful attention to both the pain-experiencing and the pain-free patient help to reduce pain or prevent its escalation.